Are you running a food business whose needs have evolved over the years you’ve been operating? Or perhaps you would like to upgrade or repurpose some of your equipment? Kitchen appliances, especially industrial-grade ones, can be very expensive.
Fortunately, there is a way for you to save some money without compromising on quality. One of the things you can do is converting a walk-in freezer to cooler.
Here are some of the more important aspects to be considered by those asking, “How can I convert a commercial freezer to a cooler?”
Door Change
Structurally, a walk-in freezer can look similar to a cooler. However, certain features do have differences, such as the door.
In a walk-in freezer, the door needs to be heated, otherwise it runs the risk of shutting in itself. This can prove to be very dangerous for anyone walking inside the freezer because they can get locked inside. If you want to convert your freezer to a cooler, you must change this heated door into one that’s not heated.
You want the downgrade because the heated door can potentially impact the overall temperature of your cooler. It’s not going to be freezing cold inside anymore, therefore you don’t need the door to be heated.
Defrosting
The main difference between a freezer and cooler is not actually the temperature, but rather the defrosting abilities. The defrost function is crucial in a freezer because the ice buildup needs to be regulated. However, this is not something that you need to be concerned about when it comes to coolers because the temperatures don’t drop enough to freezing levels.
Related to the freezer defrosters, you would also need to adjust the drain pan and warmers for this conversion.
Compressors
The compressor is the part that regulates temperature. If you want to convert your freezer into a cooler, you need to change your compressors. A freezer’s compressor would be specifically designed to feature low temperatures. The range of temperature is therefore going to be different from what is required or expected in a cooler.
For a truly successful conversion, you need to first take care of the compressors by replacing them accordingly. You can consult with your serviceman to determine if the compressor in your unit can be easily converted or if it needs to be replaced completely.
Miscellaneous Parts
Other parts that may need to be replaced or upgraded include the vents and floor insulation. Any other hardware that may be worn and torn could also use some improvements, so do take note of those as well.
When all of these things are addressed, then you can have a fully converted walk-in freezer to cooler.